CATEGORIES

One ring to bore them all...

The lavish budget for the mirthless rollercoaster that is 'The Rings of Power' season two has been spent unwisely. And why must humour be eschewed at all costs

THE BREADLINE

An artisanal bakery boom is seeing us queue up at dawn and pay a premium for our daily bread but behind this rise lies a story of gentrification, ultra-processed foods and a health divide between the haves and have-nots

MISSING MASCOTS

Ever notice the reduction in illustrated or child-friendly brand icons in shops or fast food chains? Kate Ng asks why once-ubiquitous cartoons seem to have been quietly retired

The prime minister's Brexit 'reset' is not what it seems

Keir Starmer’s mission to Germany ought to be something that arouses hope and optimism about Britain’s fractured relationships with its nearest neighbours – and still by far its largest economic partner – the European Union.

If anyone can secure a US trade deal, it's Mandelson

Peter Mandelson has more lives than a cat.

The real story of Starmer, Reeves and a painful Budget

Although Sir Keir Starmer appeared to lead from the front in his Downing Street rose garden speech setting out the government’s strategy, his fate is not in his own hands.

Family 'in shock' after boy, 4, smashes ancient artefact

A four-year-old child accidentally smashed a Bronze Age jar into pieces at the Hecht Museum in Israel.

Russian Su-35 fighter jet brought down over Ukraine

Ukrainian troops have dramatically downed a Russian fighter jet over eastern Ukraine as an oil depot was set ablaze by a drone strike more than 100 miles away in Russia.

Telegram chief charged for allowing 'criminal activities' on popular messaging app

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been banned from leaving France as authorities put him under official investigation as part of a probe into criminal activity on his messaging app.

Ten Palestinians killed after Israel raids West Bank camp

Palestinian Authority condemns action as 'serious escalation'

Prison teacher charged over 'relationship' with murderer

Instructor accused of misconduct with killer of Zara Aleena

National Portrait Gallery to have its first female director

The National Portrait Gallery has appointed its first ever female director, who has said she is “honoured” to have the opportunity to help write the next chapter in its history.

Two survive as light aircraft crashes on Cotswolds road

This is the moment a light aircraft crashed onto a busy road in the Cotswolds, narrowly avoiding drivers.

Mother stabbed at Notting Hill Carnival might need to have her leg amputated

Cher Maximen is fighting for life in hospital, a court hears

Heatwaves may be affecting bees' ability to smell flowers

Heatwaves are impairing the ability of bumble bees to detect floral scents, posing a serious threat to their role as pollinators, according to a new study.

Baffling baffling baffling

This 'Beetlejuice' sequel has been 36 years in the making... shame it didn't remain a one-off

BBC 'let down' by highprofile scandals, says boss

The BBC director general Tim Davie said the broadcaster has been “let down” by several controversies which have rocked the corporation in recent months and involved high-profile presenters and TV shows.

Who is going to be Britain's next ambassador to the US?

Who will be our next man – or woman – in Washington? The question has been obsessing the Westminster “bubble”, and some interested parties further afield.

Truss secretly called Sunak 'Russhi' for his Putin stance

Liz Truss secretly mocked Rishi Sunak as “Russhi Sunak”, accusing him of not doing enough to oppose Vladimir Putin over the war on Ukraine.

Starmer accused of lacking ambition over Brexit 'reset'

Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised for lacking ambition in his bid to reset relations with the EU, after he rejected the idea of free movement for under-30s and rejoining the students’ Erasmus scheme even before talks got underway.

The unbelievable (but true) tale of 'Termite' Watkins

It is hard to invent a boxer like Maurice Termite” Watkins and what he achieved in and out of the ring.

Are ParalympicsGB relying too much on golden oldies?

Experience is not in short supply in the ranks of ParalympicsGB and that is not necessarily a good thing. Paris 2024 will see records tumble when it comes to longevity and while all remarkable achievements individually, they are best served with a note of caution.

Boulter survives hot test to reach US Open round two

British No 1 Katie Boulter showcased her fighting spirit to book her place in the second round of the US Open.

Ryanair says airfares will keep falling through winter

Ryanair expects airfares will continue to fall by around 5 per cent as passenger demand slumps. “More people are flying with us this summer at lower fares,” said Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Europe’s biggest budget airline. “Good news for our passengers, bad news for our shareholders.”

Outrage over the Taliban's 'dystopian' laws for women

Activists lament distressing vision’ for Afghanistan’s future

Japanese protest airspace breach by China spy plane

Japan scrambled jets and raised a diplomatic protest with Beijing after a Chinese military plane violated its airspace.

Calls for protests as political upheaval deepens in France

Emmanuel Macron is facing a deepening crisis over the political deadlock France is facing with calls for protests after the president refused to name a prime minister from the left-wing coalition despite it winning the most parliamentary seats in the snap election last month.

Ukraine claims it now holds 100 settlements in Russia

Top military commander says Kyiv’s troops now control 500 square miles of territory in Kursk after this month’s incursion

Child neglect fuelled by poverty and lack of services

Cases of child neglect are being fuelled by a disastrous combination” of support services being hollowed out and the cost of living crisis, professionals have warned.

Grey-Thompson 'still angry' she had to crawl off train

One of Britain’s most famous Paralympians says she is “angry” she had to “crawl off a train” at London King’s Cross station because there was no one to help her.